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NEC Corp. (JP:6701)
:6701

NEC (6701) AI Stock Analysis

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JP:6701

NEC

(6701)

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Neutral 59 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
¥5,444.00
▲(15.29% Upside)
The score is driven by improving fundamentals—strong TTM growth and margin expansion with manageable leverage—partly offset by weaker cash-flow consistency. Technicals are currently bearish (below major moving averages with negative MACD), and valuation is relatively expensive (P/E ~30 with a low dividend yield), which collectively cap the overall rating.
Positive Factors
Revenue and margin momentum
A near 50% TTM revenue increase alongside rising gross, operating and net margins indicates improving demand and execution. Because NEC earns much from multi‑year IT and network contracts, stronger top‑line and margin mix can sustainably lift earnings quality over several quarters.
Conservative leverage and improving returns
A low D/E (~0.27) and rising ROE (~12%) reflect improving capital efficiency and conservative financial structure. This durable balance-sheet strength supports continued investment in solutions, cushions downturns and provides flexibility for long‑term strategic initiatives.
Solid absolute cash generation
Strong reported OCF and FCF levels show the business generates meaningful cash in absolute terms. That persistent cash production supports reinvestment in R&D, system deployment and managed services growth, and provides runway for deleveraging or capex over multiple quarters.
Negative Factors
Weak cash-flow consistency
Despite healthy absolute cash, FCF fell ~10% TTM and operating cash is a modest share of EBIT, signaling variability in cash conversion. Over the medium term this can pressure funding for capex, M&A or dividends if earnings remain lumpy or working capital needs rise.
Uneven historical revenue growth
NEC's recent surge follows periods of softer sales, reflecting a lumpy mix of large projects and public‑sector work. Such uneven topline progress makes sustained organic growth less certain, complicating capacity planning and long‑range margin forecasts over 2–6 months.
Absolute debt size and leverage variability
While leverage ratios improved, the company still carries sizable absolute debt and has shown variability year‑to‑year. If operating conditions deteriorate, this could constrain strategic flexibility, raise interest exposure and limit capital allocation choices over the medium term.

NEC (6701) vs. iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

NEC Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNEC Corporation operates as a provider of information and communication technology solutions in Japan and internationally. The company operates in five segments: Public Solutions, Public Infrastructure, Enterprise, Network Services, and Global. It provides systems integration services comprising systems implementation and consulting; maintenance and support services; outsourcing and cloud services; and system equipment. The company also offers network infrastructure products, including core network equipment, mobile phone base stations, optical transmission systems, and routers and switches; and services and management solutions, such as operation support system (OSS), business support system (BSS), and services. In addition, it provides safer city solutions, including public safety, digital government, and digital finance; software services for service providers, including OSS/BSS; network infrastructure comprising submarine systems and wireless backhaul; and system devices, such as display and projectors, and energy storage systems. Further, the company offers hardware products, such as servers, mainframes, supercomputers, storage products, business and personal computers, point-of-sale systems, automatic teller machines, control equipment, and wireless LAN routers; and software products, including integrated operation management, application servers, security, and database software. It serves public, healthcare, government and media, manufacturing, retail and services, telecommunications, and finance industries. NEC Corporation has collaboration with Analog Devices, Inc. to provide a 5G Network Massive MIMO Antenna Radio Unit for Rakuten Mobile. The company was formerly known as Nippon Electric Company, Limited and changed its name to NEC Corporation in April 1983. NEC Corporation was incorporated in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
How the Company Makes MoneyNEC generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily from the sale of hardware, software, and integrated solutions in the IT and telecommunications sectors. Key revenue sources include network systems, which provide hardware and software for telecommunications operators, and public safety solutions that cater to government contracts. The company also earns income through systems integration, where it designs and implements complex IT systems for enterprises and public organizations. Significant partnerships with telecom operators and government agencies play a crucial role in securing large-scale contracts, contributing to NEC's earnings. Furthermore, the company's investments in R&D enable it to innovate and stay competitive, allowing for potential growth in emerging markets such as AI and cloud services.

NEC Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 28, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 24, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlights several positive outcomes, including record revenue and profit growth, strong performance in IT services, and significant free cash flow increase. However, these are balanced by notable challenges such as losses in the submarine cable business and investment outflows. Thus, the overall sentiment is mixed, with a balance of achievements and challenges.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue and Profit Growth
Revenue for FY March 2025 was JPY3,423.4 billion, with a non-GAAP operating profit (OP) of JPY311.3 billion, achieving the mid-term management plan's targets a year ahead of schedule. Revenue increased by 5.3% year-on-year, and non-GAAP OP increased by JPY98.9 billion.
Strong Performance in IT Services
International IT business OP increased due to improved profitability, mainly attributable to Avaloq. Domestic IT services revenue excluding NEC facilities increased by 9%, and profitability improved by 2.3%.
Free Cash Flow Increase
Free cash flow from operating activities increased by JPY73.2 billion, leading to a total increase of JPY18 billion year-on-year, driven by an improved cash conversion cycle.
Blue Stellar Revenue Surge
Blue Stellar reported a 44% increase in revenue from the previous year, with a significant improvement in profitability.
Achievement of Mid-term Management Plan Targets
The company achieved its mid-term management plan targets for non-GAAP net profit and EBITDA one year ahead of schedule.
Negative Updates
Submarine Cable Business Loss
The submarine cable business recorded a JPY14 billion loss due to force majeure issues, resulting in project delays and additional costs.
Challenges in Telecom Services
The base station business recorded a negative JPY4.5 billion impact, although there was a positive impact of JPY15 billion due to the absence of one-off losses from the previous year.
Investment Outflows
Cash flow from investment activities was a net outflow of JPY55.1 billion, primarily due to investments to optimize the real estate portfolio.
Ongoing Monitoring of Low-Profit Businesses
A total of 12 businesses exited the low-profit monitoring list, but two new businesses, including the submarine cable business, were added, with decisions pending on remaining businesses.
Company Guidance
In the recent call, the company provided guidance for the fiscal year ending March 2026, projecting revenue of JPY3.36 billion and a non-GAAP operating profit (OP) of JPY320 billion. This represents an increase of JPY20 billion from the mid-term management plan target, despite macroeconomic uncertainties. The adjusted OP is expected to be JPY310 billion, factoring in ongoing structural reforms. The IT services segment is projected to post revenue of JPY2.15 trillion with an adjusted OP of JPY263 billion, while social infrastructure is expected to achieve revenue of JPY1.16 trillion and adjusted OP of JPY100 billion. The company also noted plans to increase investment in growth areas while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation, applying cash ROIC evaluation for M&A transactions. The guidance reflects a continued focus on increasing profitability, even amid challenging conditions, and highlights strategic efforts to enhance operational efficiency and future growth potential.

NEC Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Income statement momentum is strong (TTM revenue +49.6% with operating/net margin expansion), and leverage/ROE trends are improving (debt-to-equity ~0.27; ROE ~12%). The main offset is weaker cash-flow consistency (FCF down ~10.4% and modest cash conversion vs EBIT), which tempers the otherwise improving fundamentals.
Income Statement
78
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) results show a strong top-line rebound (+49.6% revenue growth) with improving profitability: net margin rose to ~6.7% and operating margin to ~9.8% versus ~5.1% and ~7.7% in FY2025. Gross margin also expanded (~32.1% TTM vs ~31.0% FY2025), indicating better mix and/or execution. Key weakness: growth has been somewhat uneven historically (FY2025 revenue slightly down), so sustaining the recent surge is the main watch item.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
Leverage looks conservative for the period: debt-to-equity improved to ~0.27 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) from ~0.34 in FY2025, with equity building over time. Returns are also trending better, with return on equity up to ~12.0% TTM from ~9.0% in FY2025. Main drawback: total debt remains sizable in absolute terms, and the balance sheet has shown some year-to-year leverage variability, which could matter if operating conditions soften.
Cash Flow
63
Positive
Cash generation is solid in absolute terms (TTM operating cash flow ~¥459B; free cash flow ~¥327B) and free cash flow covers net income reasonably well (~0.79x TTM). However, free cash flow growth is sharply negative in TTM (down ~10.4% vs the prior period shown), and cash conversion versus operating earnings appears weaker in TTM (operating cash flow is ~36% of EBIT, higher than FY2025 but still not especially strong). Overall, cash flow is positive but less consistent than earnings momentum suggests.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.42T3.48T3.31T3.01T2.99T
Gross Profit1.06T1.01T958.25B886.41B861.18B
EBITDA422.03B382.92B356.76B330.96B331.06B
Net Income175.18B149.52B114.50B141.28B149.61B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.32T4.23T4.04T3.82T3.73T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments584.62B476.49B419.46B430.78B523.35B
Total Debt666.36B573.64B608.48B597.38B702.86B
Total Liabilities2.24T2.14T2.13T2.04T2.16T
Stockholders Equity1.95T1.92T1.62T1.51T1.31T
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow218.00B171.46B74.41B76.41B203.97B
Operating Cash Flow344.41B271.23B152.13B147.52B274.91B
Investing Cash Flow-242.17B-76.02B-49.59B-63.38B-87.49B
Financing Cash Flow7.03B-155.51B-122.79B-189.62B-33.61B

NEC Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price4722.00
Price Trends
50DMA
5588.16
Negative
100DMA
5356.94
Negative
200DMA
4676.09
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-116.60
Positive
RSI
27.86
Positive
STOCH
8.50
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For JP:6701, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 4722 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5636.10, below the 50-day MA of 5588.16, and above the 200-day MA of 4676.09, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -116.60 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 27.86 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 8.50 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for JP:6701.

NEC Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
¥865.21B18.911.39%4.95%9.54%
69
Neutral
¥7.47T16.4515.02%0.68%-8.58%83.16%
69
Neutral
¥1.77T27.091.48%42.98%48.88%
64
Neutral
¥2.43T25.2822.48%1.14%4.50%16.63%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
59
Neutral
¥6.41T29.0111.69%0.55%2.68%56.38%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
JP:6701
NEC
4,722.00
1,660.94
54.26%
JP:6702
Fujitsu
4,064.00
1,041.43
34.46%
JP:4307
Nomura Research Institute
4,287.00
-1,057.77
-19.79%
JP:3626
TIS Inc.
3,723.00
43.52
1.18%
JP:9719
SCSK Corporation
5,670.00
2,124.10
59.90%

NEC Corporate Events

NEC Overhauls Board and Management Structure Ahead of New Mid-Term Plan
Jan 29, 2026

NEC Corporation announced a broad reshuffle of its governance and executive structure, including new appointments to its Board of Directors effective after the June 2026 shareholders’ meeting and changes to Representative Executive Officers and Executive Officers effective April 1, 2026. The company will add two foreign nationals, Elly Keinan and Joseph A. Kraft Jr., as independent outside directors to strengthen global insight and diversity, while promoting Kunikazu Amemiya to Corporate Senior Executive Vice President and CFO and Representative Executive Officer, and seeing several outside directors and current executives retire or shift roles. At the same time, NEC will abolish its existing business unit structure and reorganize management around four key domains—IT Services, Social Infrastructure, Technology & Innovation, and Corporate—aimed at accelerating its new mid-term management plan starting in fiscal 2026 and creating a clearer, more synergistic framework to drive global business expansion and enhance long-term corporate value.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:6701) stock is a Hold with a Yen6500.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NEC stock, see the JP:6701 Stock Forecast page.

NEC Releases Q3 FY2026 Results and Full-Year Outlook
Jan 29, 2026

NEC Corporation released materials outlining its financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, together with full-year forecasts and selected business topics. The disclosure package appears to be a standard quarterly update summarizing recent performance, outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, and historical financial data, aimed at informing investors and other stakeholders about NEC’s current operating trends and medium-term expectations.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:6701) stock is a Hold with a Yen6500.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NEC stock, see the JP:6701 Stock Forecast page.

NEC Delivers Strong Nine-Month Earnings and Lifts Full-Year Profit Outlook
Jan 29, 2026

NEC reported solid consolidated results for the nine months ended December 31, 2025, with revenue rising 4.3% year-on-year to ¥2.42 trillion and operating profit surging 46.8% to ¥185.2 billion, helped by strong improvements in profitability. Net profit attributable to owners of the parent nearly doubled to ¥142.3 billion, while non-GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP earnings per share also posted robust gains, indicating stronger underlying performance. The company’s financial position improved, with the equity ratio increasing to 50.3%, and it confirmed a lower per-share dividend level for FY2026 reflecting the April 2025 five-for-one share split. NEC revised its full-year FY2026 forecast upward, now targeting ¥3.56 trillion in revenue and ¥360 billion in non-GAAP operating profit, underscoring confidence in sustained earnings growth and signaling a firmer earnings base for shareholders and institutional investors.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:6701) stock is a Hold with a Yen6500.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NEC stock, see the JP:6701 Stock Forecast page.

NEC Restructures Fire and Disaster Prevention Business
Nov 28, 2025

NEC Corporation announced a corporate restructuring involving the transfer of its fire and disaster prevention business to NESIC Holdings, Ltd., and subsequently to NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation. This move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen NEC’s business foundation in the digital transformation and social infrastructure domains, enhancing its capabilities in serving domestic regions and local governments.

The most recent analyst rating on (JP:6701) stock is a Buy with a Yen6500.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NEC stock, see the JP:6701 Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 31, 2026